Related articles

Like many people Jennie had previously been concerned about spending a week on a ship considerably smaller than an ocean liner.

But she says: “My first impression was how big our cabin was. I fully expected to be crawling over my husband to get into bed but it wasn’t like that at all.

“On cruise ships I love to have my own balcony and you can get that on a river ship but we didn’t have one – but it didn’t matter because the whole window came down electronically and it was almost as good as being outdoors.”

Other things Jennie didn’t expect included the gym and swimming pool.

GETTY

Jennie has changed her mind about river cruises ever since sailing down the romantic Rhine

“The pool was only four or five strokes long up or down but there was a jet stream you can swim against.”

It was a lot more elegant, quite grand and luxurious, than I expected

Jennie Bond

Nor did she expect the chandeliers: “It was a lot more elegant, quite grand and luxurious, than I expected and the food was fantastic – top class.”

Jennie and her husband were lucky enough to be on Uniworld’s SS Antoinette, one of the most elegant ships on any European river.

But apart from the unexpected space and luxury, the one thing that surprised Jennie most was her new-found interest in the cultural experience of visiting European towns and cities.

As with most river cruise lines, daily excursions with local guides were included.

The best cruise destinations 2016

Fri, February 26, 2016

The stunning destinations that have been ranked the best to visit in 2016

“You don’t have all that decision making about ‘do I want to spend $200 on a trip or not’,” she says.

“The excursion we really enjoyed was vinegar tasting in Venningen in Germany,” she says, still surprised that vinegar can taste so good.

“We drove through lovely countryside then, after a welcome glass of vinegar, we had to put on these medieval-like cloaks for a tour but you wear them to protect the casks of vinegar from you – so they don’t absorb your perfume etc.

“You can drink the vinegar as digestives and aperitifs. Each one allegedly has special properties – one for respiratory tracts another for digestion. We bought three bottles!”

GETTY

Linz in Austria was Jennie’s husband Jim’s favourite stop

Heidelberg, Germany’s historic university town, was another highlight but Linz in Germany was Jennie’s husband Jim’s favourite stop.

“My husband particularly wanted to see the Rhine because he has a web cam on Linz at home to watch the ferries,” says Jennie.

“And when we got to Linz we saw a ferry and he was delighted,” she adds, explaining that the web cam is more for amusement than serious study.

What she is serious about, though, is the way river cruises can open up a new world of history and culture for those who go on them.

“We should learn more about the world we are in and the history – and particularly in Europe,” she urges.

In fact she is so hooked on river cruises that she has now agreed to become an Ambassador for the online travel agency Reader Offers Ltd.

“I would like to do the south of France next!” she says, with some enthusiasm, although it’s unlikely she will ever fall out of love with ocean cruises.

As for her husband, well he can now watch the Linz web cam in a much more informed manner.